THE THEATRES

Southland Times, Issue 24433, 13 May 1941, Page 7

THE THEATRES

REGENT “ANDY HARDY MEETS DEBUTANTE” MICKEY ROONEY AGAIN Heading the fun at the Regent are the wonderfully popular Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. Against a glamorous Manhattan background, the Hardy Family has once again woven a tale of hilarious comedy and poignant human drama in “Andy Hardy Meets Debutante.” In this latest episode of M.-G.-M.’s saga of a typical American family, the Hardys take a trip to New York, where Lewis Stone, as Judge Hardy, must fight a dramatic battle against the best legal brains in the metropolis or see the Carvel orphanage, refuge of the little towns parentless youngsters closed for lack of funds. How he manages to win the battle furnishes the best courtroom scene of the year. Meanwhile, Mickey Rooney, as Andy, has enmeshed himself in a situation from which he can see no escape. Infatuated with pictures of a New York glamour girl, he has boasted to his sweetheart,Ann Rutherford, and to Carvel chums that . he knows the debutante. Taken to New York with the family, he must make good on his boast or never hear the last of it. Comedy highlights growing out of his predicament include his being thrown out of the debutante’s home when he tries to present a selfwritten letter of introduction, and a night club scene in which Mickey unwittingly runs up a forty-dollar bill on an eight-dollai - bankroll. Mickey plays the comedy scenes with a deft touch and has never turned in a better performance as Andy Hardy. Judy Garland, teamed with Mickey for the third time in their film careers, sings, two numbers, “I’m Nobody’s Baby” and “Alone.” She is a charming sub-deb. who aids Mickey in finally meeting the glamour girl, the latter played by Diana Lewis, newest Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer star. The supporting programme is again unusually good and includes tonight the final screening of the Air Force subject, “Wings Over New Zealand.”

MAJESTIC

“MUTINY IN THE BIG HOUSE”

Smashing action is the keynote of Monogram’s “Mutiny in the Big House,” a thrilling prison drama suggested by an actual prison riot, which comes to the Majestic Theatre today. It is the story of Father Joe, beloved prison chaplain, and Red Manson, the one convict who hated him, and tells how the two struggle for the confidence of Johnny Gates, a first offender. Johnny is bitter against the law that sent him to gaol for a small forgery, suspicious of Father Joe, who wants to help him, and a seemingly easy prey for the ruthless killer, Red Manson. The film becomes a struggle between the force of good and the force of evil, as personified by the priest and the killer. A gigantic prison break is the climax of the picture and thrills abound when Father Joe, under gun fire, walks alone across the prison yard to save the lives of innocent men, excited to mutiny by the lying, bullying tongue of Manson. The central figure in this deftlyfashioned screen play is Charles Bickford—in the role of the prison chaplain —a far cry from the tough-man characterizations which have been his lot in the past. Bickford gives, perhaps, the most outstanding performance of his entire screen career. Barton Mac Lane, as Red Manson, is characteristically brutal, and Dennis Moore, as Johnny Gates, gives a thoroughly competent portrait. In the strong supporting cast are Pat Moriarity, Charley Foy, Nigel de Brulier, William Royle, Russell Hopton and George Cleveland. The associate feature, “Swing It Professor,” is a snappy musical comedy starring the popular singer Pinky Tomlin, with Paula Stone and Pat Gleason in support, while the Three Song Pluggers, The Three Gentlemaniacs and The Four Squires Swing Band are also featured. For variety in entertainment here is a programme which will satisfy any audience. Plans are now on view at Rice’s Majestic shop, H. and J. Smith’s or at the Majestic Theatre.

STATE

Tyrone Power has the most famous and colourful of all screen roles in ‘'The Mark of Zorro,” Twentieth CenturyFox production which is screening at the State Theatre at 2 and 8 daily. He is seen as the masked bandit of Old California, whose sword mark—a jagged Z—struck terror to every heart but that of his lover. The role is crammed with hard riding, furious fighting and ardent romance, and Power, in a more active part than any of his previous characterizations, is also given more opportunity to display his fine acting talent. For once the limitations of history do not cramp his portrayal. In the opposite role Linda Darnell, as the loveliest senorit? in the land, gives a very engaging performance which easily surpasses all her previous efforts. Spectacularly filmed, “The Mark of Zorro” also features Basil Rathbone, Gale Sondergaard, Eugene Pallette, J. Edward Bromberg, Montagu Love, Janet • Beecher, Robert Lowry and Chrispin Martin. The director, Rouben Mamoulian, has captured all the danger, beauty, romance ard thrills of the storied country where the scenes are laid. Supports include Vyvyan Donner’s Fashion Parade in Technicolour. Box plans are at Begg’s or the State Theatre.